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BEYOND WRESTLING SIGNATURE SERIES ON IWTV EPISODE 2 REPORT

Beyond Wrestling “Signature Series: Episode 2”

3/4/21 - Streaming on IWTV.LIVE

Last time on Beyond Wrestling’s “Signature Series” - 

This week continues both the Tag Tournament For Tomorrow and the Greatest Rivals Round Robin after 40 Acres and Chris Dickinson notched some W’s. Beyond owner Denver Colorado (the man, not the place) is your host. Rich Palladino is your announcer. Paul Crockett and self-proclaimed Hall of Fame commentator, Sidney Bakabella, are on commentary. 

Match 1: Delmi Exo vs “The Dimepiece” Aaron Rourke

This is Rourke’s first appearance in Beyond since SLADE absolutely destroyed him in the last match of Uncharted Territory Season 2’s Discovery Gauntlet. Rourke muscles Exo into the corner, pushing and slapping her to do something. Delmi ain’t taking that and hits a head scissors and charging forearm. Exo with a northern lights bridge pin for two. Rourketries to run for the ropes but Exo gets his fingers, causing the Dimepiece to scream bloody murder. Rourke catches her on the ropes and goes to work...but slowly getting distracted by the wrestlers taunting him at ringside. Exo takes a choke on the ropes but fires up with a series of chest shots. Rourke takes it and hits a snap german for two. Rourke hits a running kick, plants her face to the canvas and stomping her out. Rourke is taking exception to Exo’s “just one of the boys” moniker and taunting her throughout the contest. Rourke comes in with a palm strike, Delmi ducks and hits a cutter. Shotgun dropkick from the second, kick out! Rourker with a flip reversal on a kick catch, enziguri and a running knee for two. Rourke is very frustrated. Rourke whiffs a 450, spears himself into the second turnbuckle. Delmi hits a t-bone suplex for two. Delmi to the second but Rourke kicks the rope and she drops into position for a package DDT. Delmi goes limp for the three count. 

Winner: Aaron Rourke

Both looked great here. Rourke was a perfect heel, never shutting down his verbal tirade on Exo. Exo kept the fight up and looked like she had it at several points but that was a brutal finish. Good stuff. 

Tournament For Tomorrow Quarterfinal Match:  Ephemera (Edith Surreal [fka. Still Life with Apricots and Pears] & St. Jackson Dupont [fka. BLANK]) vs Shook Crew (Bryce Donovan & Bobby Orlando w/ Bobby Jr.)

This may be Ephemera’s debut under new monikers but they’ve spent years together as the Nouveau Aesthetic. Dupont spends the opening minute tossing Orlando corner to corner, causing him to powder in frustration. Dupont really working the power game here early. Edith in and takes on Donovan, leaving him for Dupont to pick up the scraps....and walks into a ripcord boss man slam. Orlando in to hit the Bobby slam. Donovan grinding Dupont out on the mat. Dupont continuing to take damage until he gets a rolling spear on Orlando. Surreal with the tag, springboard dropkick and a series of clotheslines. She survives the Shook Crew double team, spinning bulldog to Donovan. Dupont makes the save. Roaring forearm to Donovan. Orlando with the backcracker to Dupont. Surreal hits a straightjacket ddt to Orlando for the pin!

Winners: Ephemera

So the story here is that Still Life w/ Apricots & Pears lost her mask to Ziggy Haim last night at Enjoy Wrestling and this is her new form. I’m curious what new wrinkles Dupont with bring to his character after shedding the BLANK moniker. The match was good. Shook Crew is clearly trying to redefine itself after the group’s mouthpiece in Max Caster has gone on to acclaim in bigger waters. Donovan and Orlando were significantly more aggressive and working well as a unit here but it was only the name that changed for Ephemera...their chemistry is awesome, as has been their growth over the last year or so. Liked this. 

We get a promo video, breaking down the history of the four GRRR competitors: Deppen & Makowski crossed paths during the Season 2 Discovery Gauntlet,when Deppen jumped Makowski and took his spot (ultimately losing to Makowski a month later). Deppen causes a distraction a couple weeks later to end Makowski’s run early. Later that night, Dickinson challenges and beats Deppen in a impromptu contest. In 2020, they were able to score a tag team win over the Second Gear Crew. Makowski and Dickinson crossed paths at “Shangri-La Magistral”. Dickinson got the win but Makowski got his respect. Deppen & Yuta crossed paths during their runs on “The Masked Wrester”, with Yuta getting the win in suspect fashion. Yuta, coming off a win against Chuck O’Neil, wanted a step up in competition and took on Dickinson...the Dirty Daddy took that match too. Makowski & Yuta? Well, this is a first time contest....but they came up in the same schools so they have something to prove to each other too. A GOOD PACKAGE from Joseph Montecillo.   

Greatest Rivals Round Robin Match 2: “Weapon X” Matt Makowski vs Wheeler YUTA

Buckle up, kids. Yuta still has his beard so you know he’s evil....even if he did accept that respectful handshake. Good technical start, Yuta and Makowski working holds and reversals at an even pace. Yuta hits a scoop slam to break the chess match but Makowski judo tosses him back down and locks up the head. Yuta out with an arm drags, into a rings of Saturn but rolls into a pin attempt. Yuta working the ankles and throwing kicks to keep Makowski on the defensive. Makowski up and over on an Irish whip, slingshot into a rear naked choke. Transition to an armbar. Yuta tries to reverse but winds up back in the arm bar. Makowski straightens the arm out but Yuta to the ropes. Strike battle? Yuta takes one shot and powders. Makowski gets his legs swept on the apron and Yuta is back to swarm with punches. Yuta with a diving elbow for two. Yuta smothering Makowski but Weapon X pops up with more strikes. Makowski and Yuta trade pin attempts. Makowski with a doctor bomb for two. Makowski right into another arm bar.....Yuta slips it into a standing ankle lock. Yuta fights out Makowski’s break attempt with a back suplex. They struggle up....Makowski with a spinning back kick. Yuta with a german for two. Yuta to the top but cut off. Makowski has him up on the ropes in a torture rack, slams him down right into the armbar. Yuta is forced to tap frantically. 

Winner: Matt Makowski

So you know how I really liked Dickinson vs Deppen from last week? Yeah...THIS WAS FAN-F***ING-TASTIC. Yuta is so smooth in his work and Makowski has really turned it up over the last year or so and become a force to be reckoned with. Just go watch this. 

This episode was a low-key banger. If last week said “Beyond is BACK”, this week reiterated that “Beyond is HERE”. A great build of action from match to match and a phenomenal third contest put this over the top. It’s also just a joy to see Rich Palladino announcing matches again. The chemistry between Paul Crockett and Sidney Bakabella has been VERY missed on the indies. Beyond proved that they didn’t just stack their best content in that first episode...we have a really good ride in the weeks to come. Which brings me to next week: I see I get to say “F*** OHIO!” A few times? Atticus Cogar vs Jody Threat. Faith in Nothing (RSP & Vincent Nothing) vs Milk Chocolate (Randy Summers & Brandon Watts) and Matt Makowski vs Tony Deppen. Yep. Set your calendars. Gonna be good.

Some other news: Beyond announced today their first Massachusetts show since March of 2020. “Fools Paradise” on 4/1 @ 9pm (right after the debut of Episode 6 on IWTV) in Worcester, MA. Temp checks and aggressive mask protocols will be in effect. Tickets are on sale now at shopiwtv.com.

Another detail on the broadcast: Genkai, the winner of IWTV’s “The Masked Wrestler” will be cashing in their title shot and challenging WARHORSE for the IWTV Championship at New South Pro Wrestling’s “Heart of Southern Sixteen” (HOSS) Tournament on 3/6. WHO COULD GENKAI BE?!? Will they win? Will Wheeler Yuta hop in a car and get Genkai back for his Masked Wrestler tournament finals loss? We’ll find out Saturday! Until then!

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